Artist Shaun Gladwell presents his work, MADDESTMAXIMVS: Planet & Stars Sequence, 2009, in the Australian Pavilion in the Giardini. Influenced by his experiences in Australia’s landscape of the outback, and Mad Max movies, the work is a suite of videos accompanied by sound, photographic and sculptural works.

Gladwell’s work critically engages personal history, memory and contemporary cultural phenomena through performance, video, painting and sculpture. He has exhibited in major national and international exhibitions; including The Mind is a Horse, Bloomberg Space, London (2001) and the Yokohama 2005 Triennale of Contemporary Art, Japan. Gladwell’s work was also represented in the 2006 Biennale in Busan (South Korea) and Sao Paulo (Brazil). In 2008 he exhibited in Sydney and Taipei Biennales.

Shaun Gladwell was one of three Australian artists selected by Director Robert Storr to participate in the 52nd International Art Exhibition at Venice Biennale 2007. Gladwell’s Storm Sequence generated positive reviews from a range of international newspapers and journals including Art in America and Frieze magazine. His installation for the Australian pavilion will build upon the foundation of interest and support created by his participation in the 2007 Venice Biennale.